• Mr Nicholas Turkentine (Chair)
• Mr David Drane
• Ms Diana Frost
• Mark Welbourn
• District Councillor George Smith
• The Clerk

• 1 Member of the public

The Parish Council meeting started at 8.00pm

22090. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

       received from James Nicholson and County Cllr Foley.
       
       

22091. PUBLIC FORUM

       One member of the public was in attendance, but no discussion was held.
       
       

22092. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

       None.
       
       

22093. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND/OR COUNTY COUNCILLORS

       County Councillor Foley was not in attendance but had sent a report prior to the meeting.
       District Councillor George Smith had sent his report prior to the meeting, and briefly outlined the main points:
       
       • Council housing - funding is borrowed so increase in interest rates is affecting scheduled work. Overcharging of some council tenants requiring refunding.
       • May elections - voter ID requirements and assistance from UDC.
       • Budget - 3% uplift in UDC council tax and 5% ECC uplift. UDC to use £4m from reserves in 2023/24.
       • Highways Rangers - Service that was funded by ECC, but run by UDC, has been cut because of finance issues. It was agreed that the Clerk should send an email in support of the Highways Rangers and their work.
       
       
       

22094. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING OF THURSDAY 24^th NOVEMBER

       Were approved and signed by the Chair.
       
       

22095. FINANCE

       Item 1 - the Clerk confirmed the balances of the Council's bank accounts as £2791 (Current) and £10,314 (Reserve)
       
       Item 2 - details of the budget were discussed, including continued funding of the Volunteer Emergency Telephone System (VETS). After discussion it was agreed that the Precept would be increased by £800, to £11,600 for 2023/24. This represents an 8.5% increase.
       The Clerk will submit the precept request to UDC and update the draft Budget for final approval at the February meeting..
       
       Item 3 - the following invoices were approved and signed: £80 for Christmas Tree payable to Sandra Turkentine, signed by the Vice Chair, £500 to the Village Hall Management Committee (as approved at the meeting on 27/9/22) and £30 to Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
       
       

22096. PLANNING

       to review and comment on new planning applications and to note any decisions as at 07/01/23.
       
       Iswas Cottage: UTT/22/3374/PDE. NO COMMENTS REQUIRED
       Land at Thatch Cottage: UTT/22/2206/OP. AWAITING DECISION
       Fairview Bungalow: UTT/22/1872/FUL. AWAITING DECISION
       
       Church Farm: For Information Only No planning application yet submitted, but Diana Frost had been informally approached by the farmer regarding future plans to redevelop the farm buildings into a light storage facility.
       Haverhill: A planning application in Haverhill for an anaerobic digestion plant was briefly discussed, as well as the possible increase in HGV traffic going through the village, to and from Haverhill.
       
       

22097. ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE

       In order to finalise application for The Bluebell Inn to be re-registered as an ACV, extra supporting documentation by way of personal statements from residents of previous community usage will be required. Mark Welbourn and Diana Frost to draft request and circulate by way of Newsletter. It was noted that a group of Hempstead residents are working towards a potential solution to re-open The Bluebell and will be holding a public meeting on 28^th January.
       
       

22098. PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MAY

       The Clerk will send out nomination forms to all Councillors when they are released by UDC. It was noted that there are briefing session in Feb and March for those wanting to run.
       
       

22099. VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM

       this is now ready to go live. Will be promoted via the Newsletter, noticeboard, village website and if possible, to residents' homes.
       The Clerk to provide information to Diana Frost and organise promotion.
       
       

22100. CORRESPONDENCE

       The Clerk confirmed receipt of notice on 20^th October 2022 from UDC of its intention to make a resolution under S45 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
       The Clerk confirmed that the letter, as agreed to on 24^th November, to the last registered owners of the triangle of land on the junction of High Street, Hill Road and Anso Road was sent on 13^th January.
       
       

22101. SPEEDWATCH/POLICE SPEED CHECKS

       20's Plenty Campaign - It was agreed that the Parish Council would support this campaign and send an email to ECC (Counci;llor Lee Scott, Member for Sustainable Transport) along the lines that the Campaign suggests, but with additional wording regarding a 40mph limit on rural B roads which might encourage walking and cycling as an alternative to car use.
       Mark Welbourn to make changes to the suggested email and the Clerk to send to ECC.
       Police speed check - The local PCSO has been contacted and has agreed to arrange a Police speed check visit to the village. Tricia Ridgway has kindly volunteered to assist with the visit as required.
       
       

22102. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS

       Policing/Neighbourhood Watch - No update.
       Health and Wellbeing - No update.
       Highways and Rights of Way - David Drane continues to report issues such as potholes and broken barriers to Essex Highways.
       Environment - Tree survey to be required in the next FY. The Clerk confirmed that the previous survey cost £298.
       Communications - No Update.
       Village Hall - Works to the car park now complete, which cost £25,800.
       Flooding - Nick Turkentine confirmed that he has written to the owner of Turpin's Cottage twice regarding clearance of the adjoining culvert, without response.
       
       

22103. MATTERS ARISING REQUIRING DECISIONS, TO BE INCLUDED ON THE NEXT AGENDA

       Code of Conduct for Councillors - ratify the use of the revised UDC code recently adopted at the next meeting.
       
       

22104. FUTURE MEETING DATES

       23^rd February, 30^th March and 26^th April (Wednesday).